Description

Ignác Alpár József (1855–1928), a prominent Hungarian architect and professor, was a key figure in eclectic architecture during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He began his career as a stonemason apprentice before studying under Alajos Hauszmann and Richard Lucae in Berlin. He later joined the Budapest University of Technology as an assistant professor, working alongside notable architects like Imre Steindl. Alpár designed 130 notable buildings, including county halls, schools, churches, and castles across historical Hungary. His crowning achievement was the Historical Building Group at the Millennium Exhibition, featuring iconic replicas like Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest. Despite ceasing architectural work after World War I, he remained active in the artistic community and served as president of the Master Builders Guild. He passed away in Switzerland at the age of 73, following complications from pneumonia contracted during a trip to the United States.

Engraver: Mihály Fritz